What Notre Dames Trustee Resignation Means for the University (9112)

The controversy over the prestigious school’s pro-life identity continues.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — After critics conducted a month-long campaign that raised questions about the suitability of a new member of the board of trustees of the University of Notre Dame, Roxanne Martino abruptly resigned Wednesday.

Martino is a Notre Dame alumna and successful money manager who made sizable donations to pro-abortion political-action committees.

The university posted a terse notice announcing the resignation on its website: “Roxanne Martino has resigned from the University of Notre Dame Board of Trustees, effective immediately, in the wake of reports criticizing donations she has made to organizations that characterize themselves as pro-choice.”

Martino’s resignation ended the latest chapter in an increasingly public struggle over the religious identity and institutional direction of the nation’s pre-eminent Catholic university. But critics vowed to continue to challenge policies they view as hostile to the university’s storied legacy.

The campaign to expose troubling details about Martino’s history of financial support for pro-abortion political organizations was initiated by the Cardinal Newman Society. Two years earlier, after Notre Dame announced plans to honor President Barack Obama at its 2009 commencement exercises, the Cardinal Newman Society launched a website and a petition campaign that provided a forum for a groundswell of outrage from Catholics who repudiated the president’s commitment to abortion rights. Many U.S. bishops publicly rebuked the university.

Patrick Reilly, president of the Cardinal Newman Society, expressed a measure of relief that an individual with a history of financial support for pro-abortion organizations would not be setting policy for the university. But he asserted that the administration’s handling of the controversy provided little reassurance that a broad reassessment of other troubling actions was under way: “Since the Obama controversy, we have raised numerous concerns that have been brushed off by the university. For example, Notre Dame just announced that Daniel J. Myers, a sociology professor and associate dean of the College of Arts and Letters — who had repeatedly sponsored the Vagina Monologues — has been promoted to vice president and associate provost for faculty affairs.”

Ignorance an Excuse?

The Cardinal Newman Society and alumni groups concerned about Martino’s record say their unease has been deepened by the university’s refusal to address the charges leveled by critics in an open and transparent manner.

Both Martino and Richard Notebaert, chairman of the board of trustees, also issued statements marking her resignation, but no apologies or explanations were offered to the Notre Dame fellows that approved her appointment or the concerned Notre Dame alumni who sought and received assurance that she had not knowingly donated to pro-abortion organizations.

Nor did their public statements provide evidence to bolster perhaps the most curious assertion made by university officials: Martino, a top investment-fund executive with billions of dollars under management, remained unaware of the political goals of Emily’s List and the Chicago-based Personal PAC, despite donating an estimated $27,000 over many years, increasing the likelihood that she would have received detailed communications about their political mission.

“Ms. Martino has served Notre Dame in many ways over the years and is highly regarded as someone who is absolutely dedicated in every way to the Catholic mission of this university,” said Notebaert in a statement that applauded the former trustee’s record of community service.

Martino’s statement stipulated that she remained “fully committed to all aspects of Catholic teaching and to the mission of Notre Dame.” She did not explain how she squared her Catholic faith with her financial commitments to pro-abortion political groups.

Bill Dempsey, the president of the Sycamore Trust, a group of reform-minded Notre Dame alumni who seek to strengthen the university’s Catholic identity, suggested that the lack of transparency raised additional questions.

“The university cannot even bring itself to concede that Emily’s List and the Illinois State Personal Pac are pro-choice. The university says these groups ‘characterize themselves as pro-choice,’ as in he says he is Christian. Is the suggestion that Ms. Martino just did not believe them?” observed Dempsey.

He noted that the statements issued by Martino and Notebaert made no attempt to set the record straight about her contributions or how they might pose problems for her appointment to the board of trustees of a Catholic university.

“There is not the faintest hint that her actions bore upon her qualifications for the board of the university,” said Dempsey. Rather, the statements “seem to be saying that her association with pro-abortion organizations is fully in harmony with the mission of this Catholic university. Unhappily, this is of a piece with Mr. Notebaert’s actions, joined in by Father Jenkins, throughout this scandalous episode.”

No Comment

Asked to respond to the concerns raised by the university’s critics, Martino, Notebaert and Holy Cross Father John Jenkins, president of the university, declined to comment. Dennis Brown, a university spokesman, offered no additional information in an e-mail message: “We issued a news release on this matter yesterday and have nothing more to add.”

The apparent disparity between the university’s press release and the public record of Martino’s political contributions underscores the challenges and opportunities created by the internet. It is a new era of heightened transparency and faster distribution of reports and arguments critical of institutions such as Notre Dame that once were able to withhold sensitive information.

Holy Cross Father Bill Miscamble, professor of history and president of the Notre Dame chapter of University Faculty for Life, spoke of the controversy in a presentation at Alumni Day in May. He spoke of the need to keep Notre Dame a pro-life institution as part of its Catholic identity. Several members of the Board of Trustees were present at Father Miscamble’s talk.

This week, Father Miscamble said he was “grateful” that Martino “had the decency to resign from the board of trustees, but very disappointed that she included no apology in her statement for her sad record of donations to Emily’s List and other virulently pro-abortion PACs like Illinois State Personal PAC.”

“There is clearly a need for a serious investigation as to how this appointment was made and how similar appointments can be avoided in the future. Such action will be supported by all those who love Notre Dame and want it to be an unambiguously pro-life institution,” said Father Miscamble.

The Cardinal Newman Society, which is in the process of increasing its journalistic investigations of Catholic colleges’ policies and practices, began researching Martino, president and chief executive officer of Aurora Investment Management, shortly after her appointment to the board of trustees was announced in late April.

Subsequently, the Newman Society posted the results of an Internet search of Martino’s political contribution history on City-Data.com, which revealed sizable donations to Emily’s List between 2005 and 2008. On its website, Emily’s List states that it is “dedicated to electing pro-choice Democratic women to office.”

In the wake of the 2009 controversy provoked by Obama’s presence at the commencement exercises, Father Jenkins appointed a “Task Force on Supporting the Choice for Life” to identify ways for Notre Dame to “increase and manifest” a commitment to a culture of life. In 2010, the university also published the task force’s “Institutional Statement Supporting the Choice for Life” and the “University of Notre Dame Principles for Institutional Charitable Activity.”

Committed alumni like Bill Dempsey and Bill McGurn — The Wall Street Journal columnist and former speechwriter for George W. Bush who wrote a widely circulated op-ed for the National Catholic Register demanding answers to questions about Martino’s political donations are enthusiastic about a new initiative, the Guadalupe Project, which will form and train a new generation of pro-life leaders at the South Bend campus.

Martino’s resignation has closed one chapter in the fight to shore up Notre Dame’s Catholic identity. But Dempsey still wants answers to some troubling questions.

“We still don’t know what information Father Jenkins or Mr. Notebaert had when they put this information out to the Notre Dame fellows — the people who elect members of the board of trustees. But we do know that the fellows claim they didn’t know about Ms. Martino’s contributions.”

Comments

Catholic education at Notre Dame? Are you kidding? One hundred twenty hour to graduate, twelve required in philosophy and theology, and those are electives, like Religions of China and the former and ever popular
Sex and Marriage(the movie was great) No one is receiving a Catholic education.

Posted by Paul on Wednesday, Jun 29, 2011 8:19 AM (EDT):

Thank you Megan. Well I think we are agreed that the appointment would seem to have been a mistake which has been rectified. Perhaps there was some naivete in that. Unfortunately anytime one of the better known Catholic Universities makes a mistake there will be those who try to capitalise on it. That seems to be an unfortunate side effect of any media involvement. Perhaps there was some naivete too in the choice to honor Obama, whose pro abortion views are well known. Again I can well imagine that John Paul 2 would have been more than open to dialogue with Obama. (I’m not sure that he would have chosen to honor him.) Nonetheless I wish you all the best with your studies and urge you to continue to be positive. I’m glad you chose to be a part of this discussion. You brought a valuable inside perspective to it. I agree your discernment of the potential ills of gossip, we must remember that it usually involves the character of another individual. God bless you and good luck.

Posted by Megan on Monday, Jun 27, 2011 10:27 PM (EDT):

Well, to clarify, Fr. Jenkins did not make the appointment. Fr. Jenkins answers to the board, so I am not sure why he was even being brought into this. No, it was not a good choice, of course. But I don’t know enough about the situation to know if the Trustees knew of her activities before selecting her and I believe that giving people the benefit of the doubt, in absence of information saying I shouldn’t, is the Christian thing to do, as opposed to some people, like other commentators here, who believe in making assumptions about motivations despite not knowing what is going on then basically engaging in a form of gossip. Maybe they didn’t do a good job of checking her out, but now she resigned, doing the proper thing, so I don’t see why so many are so angry about it. But really, it’s summer break and that is the only reason I noticed this blog. During school, I don’t have and I assume most students don’t have a lot of time to worry about the Board of Trustees or bloggers. We just want to go to class in peace and not be used for someone’s political grandstanding.

Posted by Paul on Monday, Jun 27, 2011 9:10 AM (EDT):

Thank you for your reply Megan. It would have been very easy for you to simply be angry and dismissive. No, I do not suggest that you simply take the word of the Newman Centre or bloggers without question. You should look around and ask “Is all that is happening and seen to be happening here, good”. This was the benchmark of God’s judgement on his creation “And God saw that it was good”. We need to remind ourselves that sometimes, good people, make mistakes. And the fact that Fr Jenkins is a good man doesn’t make everything he does good. You strike me as a bright person and I have no doubt that you can differentiate between the rubbish and genuine concerns in these blogs. Clearly a Catholic University cannot have, on its board, someone who is sponsoring pro abortion activities and you and I should question the judgement of someone who makes such a choice. We should also question those who make that appointment especially if they see nothing wrong with it. We would expect the board to query the credentials of the teaching staff if they suspected those credentials were not up to standard. Similarly the credentials of those on the board should also be open to question. That includes Fr Jenkins. Here in Australia the media actively seeks out the opinion of one particular parish priest because they know they will get contorversial views. It doesn’t mean he is a bad man but his choices show questionable judgement. Fr Jenkins is the president of one of the most influential Catholic Universities in America and he would be well aware of that position. You’re right, he doesn’t deserve to be maligned but the expectation of him is that he exercise not just judgement that IS good, but judgement that IS SEEN to be good. The evidence is that this particular appointment was a poor choice. You are at the school, did you think it was a poor choice? If not why not? What are we all missing? Once again God Bless you.

Posted by Megan on Tuesday, Jun 21, 2011 12:25 AM (EDT):

And, I apologize, I submitted my comment too soon. You say “Do not simply accept everything your institution tells your as the truth when there are clearly questions.”. Should I accept the word of the Newman Center and bloggers, then, without question? The word of people who only even know my school exists because we have a football team that plays on TV? What I know is that Fr. Jenkins is a good man and a wonderful priest and he doesn’t deserve to be maligned by people who don’t know anything about him or our school except for what they read on blogs.

Posted by Megan on Tuesday, Jun 21, 2011 12:17 AM (EDT):

Paul, are you interested in pointing out the “subtle vitriol” in all the comments before mine, or are you ignoring that because you agree with them? I am not saying this to be combative at all, I am genuinely curious. Looking back at the comments that refer to my school as “diseased” and to us as “supposed” Catholics, and who assume I am “pro-choice” because they disagree with me, do you see any “vitriol” at all?

Posted by Paul on Monday, Jun 20, 2011 8:53 PM (EDT):

Ahh Megan. I sense a subtle level of vitriol in your statements. 1 John 4 19-21 should be our basis for our discussion. The dealings of a government should be of concern to all its citizens regardless of which party we support. So too the dealings of a Catholic Institution should be of concern to all Catholics. “Sorry you or your kids didn’t get admitted”
Do you really believe that any concerns could only be based on jealousy? Certainly ND wouldn’t be high on my list of Unis from here in Australia.(But that’s based on geography). We need to also be mindful that these concerns do not mean that the total education at ND is worthless. But we do have a right to question the direction and mission statement of an institution that professes itself Catholic but seems to indulge in behaviours and appointments which are clearly contrary to those beliefs. The wonderful John Paul 2 met with many leaders of Governments which were clearly anti catholic. He may not have challenged their religious affiliations but he certainly challenged their beliefs and the basic christian belief to love others. They were left in no doubt as to his beliefs. As a Catholic institute I would think that the board of ND should not only expect the same challenges but welcome them. Instead their behaviour seems to be in line with the child he gets caught taking cookies from the jar. If you attend ND, Megan you have an obligation to yourself and your fellow students to question. Do not simply accept everything your institution tells your as the truth when there are clearly questions. When a representative of an institution prefessing pro life, makes donations to an organistation which is demonstrably pro abortion, that is not trivial. But all Catholics should query the board which a) cannot see that there was anything wrong with their appointment and b) seems to believe that it should be set apart from any such scrutiny. If you attend ND you also have a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate, from within, your Catholic belief. God bless you in all your endeavours.

Posted by Mary cracraft on Monday, Jun 20, 2011 1:09 AM (EDT):

@Megan-I am happy in this case if I’m wrong. The spelling thing-iPhone tries to guess and rewrites your words sometimes.

Posted by Megan on Sunday, Jun 19, 2011 3:50 AM (EDT):

Mary Cracraft, guessing about someone’s beliefs based on a comment on a blog is guaranteed to make one look like a fool. And the word is “Magisterium.”

Posted by John F. Orecchio on Saturday, Jun 18, 2011 2:48 PM (EDT):

My congratulations to The Cardinal Neuman staff.
When Fr. Jenkins allowed OBAMA TO SPEAK AT THE COMMENCEMENT I WAS TOTALLY
UPSET WITH HIM. I WROTE HIM BY E-MAIL THAT WAS NONE TO COMPLIMENTARY ABOUT HIS CHOICE OF OBAMA. AT THAT TIME I FELT THERE WAS A FOX IN THE CHICKEN COOP, & I HAVE NOT CHANGED MY MIND TO THAT FACT.I FEEL THERE IS MORE THAN ONE FOX IN THE COOP, & IT`S NOW TIME TO CLEAN HOUSE. iT`S NOW TIME TO START WITH THE MAIN RESIDENT FOX,WHOM I BELIEVE IS FR. JENKINS HIMSELF. THIS MAY SOUND SOMEWHAT HARSH BUT NONE OF THIS COULD HAPPEN WITHOUT HIS STAMP OF APPROVAL.
CHASTISE ME IF YOU SO CHOOSE, BUT THAT WILL ALWAYS BE MY BELIEF ABOUT THIS SITUATION…

RESPECTFULLY

JOHN F. ORECCHIO

Posted by Mary cracraft on Saturday, Jun 18, 2011 2:33 PM (EDT):

So well put, j. Murphy. Megan-indeed this has nothing to do with politics. I’m guessing you are “pro-choice” or otherwise not faithful to all the Church’s teachings, because such individuals usually do perceive all that faithful Catholics, and the Nagisterium, do, as “political.” Nothing could be further.

Posted by J. Murphy on Friday, Jun 17, 2011 8:55 PM (EDT):

Our large family is a multi-generational ND Family. As a group we are extremely sad and disillusioned by the secular progressive path taken by ND and other so-called Catholic Universities. What was once a bastion of Catholic philosophy, ND hires and promotes professors who are the very antithesis of everything our faith stands for, and rewards others with honorary doctorates or Fellow positions despite their public profession and promotion of Pro-Choice. Contrary to those who reject this criticism as political bias, let me reassure you, this has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with Catholic values. I commend those in the Sycamore Trust and Newman Society who challenge these appointments and rewards while insisting on exposure and correction. In the meantime my entire extended family will continue to withhold any further financial support of our once beloved alma mater, and pray that this once great university returns to its revered status of a true Catholic University, In the meantime, our family will support your efforts with our prayers.

Posted by Mark S. Fenice on Friday, Jun 17, 2011 6:21 PM (EDT):

Unfortunately, Fr. Hesburgh set ND on a secular path which is now fully embraced by the current administration. Fr Jenkins’ handling of the ND88, the Obama award and his speaking platform leave no room for debate. Are you still waiting, as I am, for the result of his “dialogue” on abortion with Obama? Sadly, however, the post by Megan shows that ND apparently has failed to produce analytical thinkers even as a secular institution of higher learning. No Megan, I did not attend ND-I didn’t even apply. My daughter did and was admitted. I paid every penny of her tuition. Do I regret it, no. Do I think you got your money’s worth. No to that also.

Posted by Narciso Sanchez on Friday, Jun 17, 2011 6:15 PM (EDT):

It is about time that everyone listens to Our Pope and quit being buffet line Catholics; especially the Catholic Colleges and Universities. Accept Holy Mother Church teachings “in toto” or go elswhere. Teach according to Catholic Doctrine or go elswhere. Live a Catholic life so as to give no scandal to the Church, if you cant,go elswhere. Allowing Obama on campus after his very public support of “Infantacide” is rediculous. Those who allowed it should be excommunicated and removed from their office at Notre Dame.

Posted by Kenneth J. Howell on Friday, Jun 17, 2011 4:36 PM (EDT):

John Fer’s comment about Newman Centers is very relevant. Over 85% of baptized Catholic college students attend non-Catholic universities. The Newman Centers need to become places where the Catholic intellectual tradition is engaged. The once-upon-a-time Catholic universities are failing to pass on that heritage. In my experience, most faculty at Catholic universities do not even know that heritage, not even minimally. The future of engagement with the Catholic intellectual tradition is at Newman Centers but they probably need as much work as the Catholic universitites.

Posted by John Fer on Saturday, Jun 11, 2011 6:20 PM (EDT):

The infestation that has diseased Notre Dame, if one recalls, is a major reason reason that its once-idolized football team fell from grace. One must ask if the decay, albeit slow to make itself manifest, is a reflection that Notre Dame first “renders unto Caesar….... .” Whatever happened to the “well-formed conscience?” As an undergrad at a secular college I frequented the Newman Club and attended Mass on campus. I am proud of the Newman Club’s work in this instance but the battle on all fronts continues!

Posted by Coucel on Saturday, Jun 11, 2011 5:31 PM (EDT):

Often to save the body we have to sever a limb.
To save NDU Holy Cross has to replace current leadership.
I hope USCCB ensures orthodoxy in all American Us. Adventurism with the dogma and life issues has no place in any Catholic Institution.

Posted by Megan on Saturday, Jun 11, 2011 2:39 PM (EDT):

I think it’s funny that you only know ND exists because of the football team. I mean, it’s true, and you know it. And always so much despair by so many commentators who have never once stepped on ND’s campus. Nor met a student who goes there. As for the Newman Society, you should consider educating yourself about their agenda before taking what they say at face value. It is a purely partisan political agenda. I will finish my studies and graduate ND proudly, knowing that those who try to use my school to settle their own petty political scores and those who hold themselves up as a false magisterium are of no consequence. Really, it’s just petty jealousy. Sorry you or your kids didn’t get admitted.

Posted by Bill on Saturday, Jun 11, 2011 11:10 AM (EDT):

Thank you for a well written piece, Mrs. Desmond. As you are well aware, former president Fr. Ted Hesburgh moved N.D. from a Catholic school to a progressive American school and the American bishops were too timid to challenge this new direction. When you witness what has/is occurred at Ave Maria University, e.g., you realize these schools are nothing but BUSINESSES.

Posted by alice moore on Saturday, Jun 11, 2011 1:28 AM (EDT):

“Martino, a top investment-fund executive with billions of dollars under management…” HELLO!!! can we say “it’s all about the money??” Why would ND choose this woman over many other alumni who are pro-life and actually practice their faith? Just like the many so-called Catholic colleges, universities and high schools that have sold their souls to the devil for money, money money….... ND, Fr. Jenkins and his ilk will NEVER clean up their act until it pays them better to do so - it’s all about the money, people.

The problem with Notre Dame is not one board member or one professor, ND’s catholic identity has long been gone, probably since the demise of Knute Rockne. In every case that a Holy Cross father or a Society of Jesus priest is president of a large university they are comparatively always on the bottom of the best of Catholic schools in the United States. Those schools that still teach the faith as it is supposed to be taught are the best schools in the country. I would suggest that the USCCB be involved in a catholic college renewal, but I don’t trust them either.

Posted by Mary Cracraft on Friday, Jun 10, 2011 7:45 PM (EDT):

Lemme just see here a minute…half a mo’...(rubs eyes in disbelief):
“Daniel J. Myers, a sociology professor and associate dean of the College of Arts and Letters — who had repeatedly sponsored the Vagina Monologues — has been promoted to vice president and associate provost for faculty affairs.”
so..SICK…of…this.
Who promoted him?
Also, I think an investigation into the Fellows who elect the Board, as well as the makeup of the Board, is due.
Who has jurisdiction, oversight, or authority over Notre Dame? Does it have to go all the way to Rome, and beg for action, before the ... nest of ...I’m going to say, unfaithful Catholics…is cleaned out? I feel sick to my stomach. Literally.

Posted by Patricia Grabher on Friday, Jun 10, 2011 4:54 PM (EDT):

Shame, shame on the supposed Catholics, including Father Jenkins. And, does he think we believe their replies. Are we that gulible? Very sad but since the university supported Father McBrian, I kinda figured it was so. Sad, Sad. I will keep them all in my prayers. It is obvious that the “Catholic” example by “them” is indeed very scandalous to say the least for the “Catholic” students.

Join the Discussion

We encourage a lively and honest discussion of our content. We ask that charity guide your words.
By submitting this form, you are agreeing to our discussion guidelines.
Comments are published at our discretion. We won’t publish comments that lack charity, are off topic, or are more than 400 words.
Thank you for keeping this forum thoughtful and respectful.